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Summary

Pamphlet issued by the City of Hawthorn to explain the role and responsibilities of the State Emergency Council for Civil Defence and the Air Raid Wardens within the community.

According to the pamphlet, the municipalities of Melbourne worked in tandem with the State Emergency Council to provide protective services 'based on the voluntary service of men...over the age of 45 years or who are otherwise ineligible for military service, and of the women in the community.' Mr. T.F. Brennan was appointed as the District Warden for the City of Hawthorn and was assisted by the Area Wardens of the four districts within the city. The pamphlet outlines the duties and organisational structure of the wardens and asks for further volunteers to supplement their number. Women were also encouraged to volunteer, but were excluded from the decontamination services and the demolition and rescue parties.

According to the Argus newspaper, the Victorian State Government was planning air raid precautions as early as 1939 with particular focus on Melbourne and Geelong. By 1940 plans for blacking out Melbourne were in place and the first black out test was made in Wattle Park at 2am in February 1941. Depsite this a letter published in the Frankston Standard later that same month comments about the seeming lack of 'State encouragement' whilst commending the air raid volunteers for their enthusiasm and commitment. The letter also notes that it was unlikely that Victoria would suffer an attack, but still important that precautions were undertaken. Such precautions appear to have increased in fervency following the attacks in the northern regions of Australia, including plans for the evacuation of children from Melbourne.

Australia suffered from 96 air raids on the mainland, concentrated on the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland, during World War II.

Physical Description

An A5, four-page pamphlet printed on a single page and folded in half. The document has been yellowed with age.